On February 15, 2010, Bayh unexpectedly announced he would not seek reelection to the Senate in 2010. After leaving the Senate, he was replaced by his predecessor, Dan Coats.

Following the withdrawal of 2016 Democratic primary winnerBaron Hill, Bayh announced that he would be running to take back his old Senate seat from retiring Republican incumbent Dan Coats.[2] He was defeated in the general election.[3]